Gloria Goldreich Dinner with Anna Karenina

Dinner with Anna Karenina

Gloria Goldreich

Mira, Jan 2006, $21.95, 368 pp.

ISBN: 0778322270

The six women who make up the book club meet monthly to discuss a chosen tale. Trish is married to Jason; Donna has two men in her life; Rina is a single mom; Jen is married to Ian, Elizabeth has Bert. However, all envy the sixth member Cynthia. She has a great job as marketing director of Nightingale's Boutique department Store; her sensitive husband Eric is a renowned documentary filmmaker; and they have two perfect twin children. Thus the other five are stunned when Cynthia informs them that she is divorcing Eric, but she refuses to provide reasons beyond that she cannot forgive him.

The other five speculate on what he did, but Cynthia remains stubborn refusing to divulge her secret. After a time of failed sleuthing, each of the other five begins to look inward at their own flawed relationships wondering what they can do to strengthen them. No one knows why the perfect marriage dissolved during their DINNER WITH ANNA KARENINA, but no one wants to follow suit.

Once again the great Gloria Goldreich provides a powerful relationship drama starring a wounded woman who feels so betrayed that she no longer trusts the man she loves. Readers will join the quintet trying to learn what he did and how can he atone for his transgression that destroyed their marriage. However, the key to this deep tale is the ensemble cast that comes across as differing individuals with varying needs, worrying about their own relationships with loved ones. Fans of powerful character studies will want to read this strong look at trust lost.

Harriet Klausner